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Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu

The powerful and cunning chief minister of France

From "The three musketeers" by Dumas, Alexandre

Core Belief

"The ends justify the means, and the strength of the state is the ultimate goal."

Worldview

Richelieu sees the world as a chessboard where nations and individuals are pieces to be moved and sacrificed in the pursuit of power. He believes in the importance of order and stability, and is willing to use any means necessary to achieve them.

Personality

Richelieu is intelligent, ruthless, and ambitious, dedicated to consolidating power for the French monarchy and eliminating his enemies. He is a master of political maneuvering and is willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. Despite his ruthlessness, he is also a patron of the arts and a skilled diplomat.

In Their Own Words

"“Monsieur,” said the cardinal, “are you a D’Artagnan from Béarn?”"
"“I wish, as the son of an ancient friend—for I consider this story of the lost letter perfectly true—I wish, I say, in order to repair the coldness you may have remarked in my reception of you, to discover to you the secrets of our policy. The king and the cardinal are the best of friends; their apparent bickerings are only feints to deceive fools. I am not willing that a compatriot, a handsome cavalier, a brave youth, quite fit to make his way, should become the dupe of all these artifices and fall into the snare after the example of so many others who have been ruined by it. Be assured that I am devoted to both these all-powerful masters, and that my earnest endeavors have no other aim than the service of the king, and also the cardinal—one of the most illustrious geniuses that France has ever produced."
"“It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.”"

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